Masked men break hands of critical Syrian cartoonist

New
York, August 25, 2011--Ali Ferzat, a famous Syrian
cartoonist critical of the government, was abducted and severely beaten by
masked gunmen as he left his office early on Thursday in Damascus, international
media reported.
The attackers stomped on his hands and said the beating was a warning, the
Associated Press said.
He was dumped bleeding on a roadside several hours later.

"Since the start of the uprising, stories of brutality
against journalists in prison have surfaced but the beating of Ali Farzat shows
publicly the intensity of the violence against the critical press," said
CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "The international community must condemn
this attack and make clear to the government in Damascus that it will be held
accountable for this and all attacks on journalists."

Ferzat, 60, is renowned in the Arab world for
his caricatures of authoritarian leaders including Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad who has sought to quell protests across the country this year and
silence critical media.